Abstract: Fiber-containing composites are described that contain woven or non-woven fibers, and a cured binder formed from a binder composition that includes (1) a reducing sugar and (2) a crosslinking agent that includes a first carbon moiety selected from an aldehyde, a ketone, a nitrile, and a nitro group, wherein an ?-carbon atom having at least one acidic hydrogen is directly bonded to the first carbon moiety. Exemplary reducing sugars include dextrose and exemplary crosslinking agents include glyoxal. Exemplary fiber-containing composites may include fiberglass insulation.

Abstract: Formaldehyde-free binder compositions are described that include an aldehyde or ketone, a reaction product between a polyamine and an organic anhydride, and an acidic compound. The acidic compound may be an organic acid, an acidic catalyst, or both. The acidic compound is supplied in quantities that lower the pH of the binder composition to about 5 or less. The binder compositions may be used in methods of binding fiberglass and the resulting fiberglass products have an improved tensile strength due to the addition of the acidic compound.

Abstract: A system for compressing and packing pipe insulation includes a compression member that is movable along a first axis to compress pieces of pipe insulation. A stacking bay includes opposing walls that are spaced apart from one another. At least one of the two opposing walls is movable relative to the other of the two opposing walls along a second axis to adjust a lateral distance between the opposing walls to accommodate an increasing size of the pieces of pipe insulation along the second axis. The first axis is generally orthogonal to the second axis. A packing member that applies a force along a third axis to the pieces of pipe insulation after being compressed. The third axis is generally orthogonal to the first and second axes. The first axis is generally orthogonal to the second axis. The compression member is aligned with a space formed between the opposing walls.

Abstract: Described is an adhesive coating that can be applied, for example, to a surface of the insulation product. The adhesive coating includes between about 15-40% by weight of the adhesive coating of at least one of polystyrene-maleic anhydride (SMA) and polyacrylic acid (PAA), between about 15 and 50% by weight of the adhesive coating of a polyvinyl alcohol, between about 0.05% and 1.0% by weight of a homogenizer, and between about 20 and 40% by weight of the adhesive coating of a starch paste. The adhesive is activated with the application of liquid water.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present technology may include piping insulation products. The piping insulation product may include glass fibers and a binder. The binder may include cured products from a binder composition that includes a carbohydrate, a nitrogen-containing compound, and a catalyst that catalyzes the reaction between the carbohydrate and the nitrogen-containing compound. The catalyst may be water soluble before curing but water insoluble after curing. The nitrogen-containing compound may include an amino-amide, an amine salt of an organic acid, an ammonium salt of a carboxylic acid, or a reaction product of a urea compound and an aldehyde-containing compound. The catalyst may include a polymer including a sulfate, sulfonate, phosphate, or phosphonate moiety. The catalyst may be a crosslinker.

Abstract: A roofing membrane includes a thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) layer and a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) layer. The TPO layer forms a bottom layer of the roofing membrane, and the PVC layer is positioned atop the TPO layer so that the PVC layer forms a top layer of the roofing membrane. The TPO layer and the PVC layer are configured to be chemically compatible so that the TPO layer and the PVC layer are chemically bonded and function as a single roofing membrane. Compatibilizing includes at least one of (i) adding a compatibilizing agent to at least one of the TPO material and the PVC material prior to extrusion and (ii) positioning at least one compatibilizing film, prior to bonding, between the TPO material and the PVC material.

Abstract: Provided is a polymer blend composition comprising linear low density polyethylene, a polypropylene polymer, generally comprising a random polypropylene copolymer, and a compatibilizer. In one embodiment, there is provided a polymer blend composition comprising 15 to 35 wt % of a polypropylene polymer, 30-60 wt % of a linear low density polyethylene, and a compatibilizer polymer composition comprising 21-50 wt % of the polymer blend. The polymer blend is quite useful in a roofing membrane.

Abstract: A method of using a self-stick insulation. The method includes providing a piece of insulation product with an adhesive coating. The adhesive coating includes polystyrene-maleic anhydride (SMA) and/or polyacrylic acid (PAA); an alcohol amine; and at least one of a polyvinyl alcohol and a starch. The adhesive coating is then activated with liquid water. Once the adhesive coating is active, the insulation product is attached to a surface with the adhesive coating.

Abstract: The invention concerns a novel binder system and its use for consolidating textile fabrics, as well as to products containing such consolidated textile fabrics. The materials according to the invention are suitable for the manufacture of reinforcing inserts, optionally in combination with at least one further textile fabric, for coated sarking membranes, roofing and waterproofing sheets, as textile backings or textile reinforcement in flooring, in particular in fitted carpets and PVC flooring, or in facers in wall coatings both in the interior and exterior of buildings, as well as in furniture.

Abstract: Provided is a roofing membrane composition comprising metallocene-catalyzed alpha-olefin polyethylene and a random polypropylene copolymer. The polymer blend is quite useful in a roofing membrane which exhibits excellent performance. The excellent performance is particularly evident in the mechanical properties and thermal properties of the roofing membrane.

Abstract: A carpet tile includes a textile top member and a cushion mat that is coupled with the textile top member via a thermoplastic material. The textile top member includes carpet yarns and a backing that is coupled with the carpet yarns so that the backing structurally supports the carpet yarns. The cushion mat includes a polymeric material component having polymer fibers that are randomly oriented and entangled together and a scrim reinforcement that is disposed within the polymeric material component. The scrim reinforcement reinforces and stabilizes the polymeric material component and is entirely covered and concealed by the intermeshed polymer fibers.

Abstract: A fibrous insulation product, such as a fibrous insulation blanket or board product, includes a plurality of fibers that are entangled together and a crosslinked aromatic polymeric binder that bonds the plurality of fibers together. The fibrous insulation product includes between 80 and 99 weight percent of the fibers and between 1% by weight and 20% by weight of the crosslinked aromatic binder. The fibrous insulation product has a density of between 0.4 and 6.0 pounds per cubic foot (pcf) and an R-value of between 4 and 50. The crosslinked aromatic polymeric binder has an aromaticity of greater than 10%.

Abstract: A self-adhering roofing membrane may include a polymeric membrane. The roofing membrane may include a first adhesive layer disposed on a major surface of the polymeric membrane. The first adhesive layer may include one or both of a hot melt adhesive and a butyl rubber-based adhesive. The roofing membrane may include a UV curable adhesive layer disposed on the first adhesive layer. The UV curable adhesive layer may have a thickness of less than about 4 mils.

Abstract: Fiber-containing products are described that include a cured binder formed from a binder composition that may include a sugar alcohol having three or more carbon atoms, and a polymeric polycarboxylic acid. The binder composition may be characterized by a mole ratio of hydroxyl groups to carboxylic acid groups greater than or about 1.1:1. The fiber-containing product may also be characterized by a thermal stability that is greater than a comparative fiber-containing product made with a comparative cured binder that includes the polymeric polycarboxylic acid but lacks the sugar alcohol. The fiber-containing products may include thermal insulation products such as building insulation, pipe insulation, duct insulation, and appliance insulation.

Abstract: A duct insulation product may include an insulation material and a moisture barrier material coupled with the insulation material. The moisture barrier material may form an outer surface of the duct insulation product. The moisture barrier material may include at least one closure flap along at least one side of the moisture barrier material. The closure flap may extend beyond a periphery of the insulation material along at least one side of the insulation material. At least a portion of an inner surface of the closure flap may include an adhesive material.

Abstract: A method of installing an insulation component in a structural element. The method may comprise providing the insulation component. The insulation component may comprise an insulation layer and a binding layer coupled to the insulation layer. The binding layer may be in a dry state and non-tacky. The method may include applying liquid to the binding layer to activate the binding layer to be in an activated state and tacky, and pressing the binding layer in the activated state against the structural element to install the insulation component in the structural element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel binder system and its use for bonding textile fabrics as well as products containing such bonded textile fabrics. The materials according to the invention are suitable for manufacturing base interlinings which may be used for manufacturing base interlinings for sarking, roofing and sealing membranes, particularly for manufacturing coated sarking, roofing and sealing membranes.

Abstract: A filter is formed by a multilayer filter medium comprising at least one textile supporting layer, at least one filter layer which is applied to at least one side of the supporting nonwoven, wherein the filter layer is constructed from glass fibres, and at least one textile covering layer which is applied to the filter layer, wherein the filter layer comprises a mixture of at least two types of glass fibres, wherein the first glass fibre type of the mixture has a diameter of 0.6 ?m±0.3 ?m, and wherein the second glass fibre type of the mixture has a diameter of 1.0 ?m±0.3 ?m, and wherein the first and second glass fibre types of the mixture are present in a ratio by weight in the range 1:1.1 to 1:4.